Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) announced that it will officially open the Korea–Mongolia Rare Metals Cooperation Center on Friday, December 12, 2025, at the Mongolian University of Science and Technology in Ulaanbaatar. The center, established through a grant-based ODA program, will receive approximately KRW 9.8 billion in support from 2023 to 2027. About 150 participants will attend the opening ceremony, including representatives from Mongolia’s Ministry of Mining and Heavy Industry (MMHI), the Mineral Resources and Petroleum Authority, and the Geological Center for Research and Analysis (GCRA), as well as officials from MOTIR, the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT), and the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM).

Since 2023, MOTIR has been promoting the establishment and operation of Rare Metals Cooperation Centers through ODA programs to strengthen cooperation in critical mineral supply chains. The Mongolia center is the first to open among five centers being established in countries such as Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, and Indonesia.

Jointly operated by KIGAM and Mongolia’s GCRA, the center will analyze tungsten, molybdenum, lithium, and other rare metals found in Mongolia and provide technical training in mineral processing, refining, and smelting. These activities aim to help Mongolia enhance the value of its rare metal resources and connect them to viable production.

MOTIR assessed that the center’s opening marks an important milestone in bilateral cooperation on critical minerals and stated it will continue supporting the center’s operations, thereby advancing Mongolia’s rare metals industry and strengthening Korea’s medium- to long-term supply chain stability.